New York, NY – Following a contentious game where the New York Yankees expressed their dissatisfaction with their players being hit by pitches from the Baltimore Orioles, tensions rose in a 7-6 loss for the Yankees against the Orioles on Wednesday at the Yankee Stadium. The game escalated when Victor Gonzalez hit Gunnar Henderson with a pitch in the seventh inning, leading to a retaliation from the Orioles.
Henderson later scored on a Ryan Mountcastle double, giving the Orioles a significant lead. The game intensified when Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run home run for the Yankees in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough to secure a win. The Orioles held on to their lead, ultimately defeating the Yankees by just one run.
In another incident, Caleb Ferguson hit Colton Cowser with a pitch in the eighth inning. Despite Cowser’s initial frustration, he acknowledged that he did not believe the pitch was intentional, especially in a close game. The series of events followed the Yankees’ claims that their players, including Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres, were being targeted by the Orioles.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde remained neutral, stating that he was unsure if Gonzalez intentionally threw at Henderson. Gonzalez himself denied any intentional wrongdoing, explaining that he was simply trying to execute a pitch as planned. The ambiguity surrounding the motives behind the pitches left players like Cedric Mullins contemplating whether they were intentional or not.
The lack of issued warnings added to the uncertainty of the situation. Judge, who was hit by a pitch the day before, expressed his frustration and displeasure with the series of incidents. Hyde addressed the Yankees’ concerns prior to the game, emphasizing that no one wishes for players to get hit during a game.
As the teams prepared to conclude their series, the focus shifted to the growing rivalry between the two top teams in the AL East. The intensity of the games hinted at a fierce competition, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of their upcoming matchup.